Neil Young had to cancel one of his shows to ensure everyone's safety.
Starting his career in 1963, Young has always seen sold-out concerts and shows due to his and his songs' popularity. He took another giant leap when he dropped his song, "Southern Man."
The track, which was part of his "After the Gold Rush" album, was released in 1970. The song talks about racism toward Black people in South America. But what made the song more notable was the fact that he was performing it at the exact time he decided to cancel the show.
Why Neil Young Canceled His 1973 Tour
During his 1973 tour in Oakland, California, Young was performing "Southern Man" when a guard beat and removed a fan from the stage.
While the singer did not feel threatened by his fan's actions, he was triggered by the security's handling of the situation instead.
Following the incident, he put down his guitar and left the stage for good. He later revealed that he left the stage and canceled the show because it was "the safest thing to do." Since he was singing "Southern Man," which has a heavy meaning, the message was immediately lost upon seeing the fan get shredded in front of him.
He also noted that the guard and the fan were of different races, making the song more ironic.
According to Young, things would have turned worse if he had continued the rest of his set. For the singer, proceeding with what happened would mean he was supporting the behavior that was shown while he was on stage.
Neil Young Spreads More Awareness True "Southern Man"
Decades after "Southern Man" dominated the music industry, Young strengthened his message against racism as he dropped the live version of the song.
As shared by Grammy's website, the singer unveiled a live version of the song to support social change across the country.
"And look at us today! This has been going on for way too long. It's not just 'Southern Man' now," he wrote. "It's everywhere across the USA. It's time for real change, new laws, new rules for policing."
Young revisited the song in the wake of the recent brutal killing of George Floyd and the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement. The song also supported the nationwide protests against police brutality and racism.
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